Portable camp stove

ABSTRACT

A portable camp stove which comprises an arrangement of bottom, back, front and end sections hingedly connected together so as to be assembled in one position of use and to be folded into a compacted relationship for portability, together with gas burners for top cooking and additional gas heating elements for selective broiling and baking operation.

Unite States Helgeson 1 PORTABLE CAMP STOVE [75] Inventor:

[73] Assignee: Raytheon Company, Lexington,

Mass.

22 Filed: Mar. 1, 1973 211 Appl. No.: 337,248

Peter L. llelgeson, Macungie, Pa.

[52] US. Cl. 126/38 [51] Int. Cl. F24c 3/14 [58] Field of Search 126/38, 44, 9 R, 25 R,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,209,610 12/1916 Muehleisen 126/38 1,483,159 2/1924 Coleman 126/38 1,524,961 2/1925 Asche 1 1 1 t 126/38 X 1,721,445 7/1929 Hall 126/38 1 May 28, 1974 2,367,216 1/1945 Howard 126/38 X 2,826,984 3/1958 Krull 126/25 R X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 971,185 9/1964 Great Britain 126/38 Primary ExaminerWi1liam F. ODea Assistant Examiner-Harold Joyce Attorney, Agent, or FirmHarold A. Murphy; Joseph D. Pannone; John T. Meany 5 7 ABSTRACT A portable camp stove which comprises an arrangement of bottom, back, front and end sections hingedly connected together so as to be assembled in one position of use and to be folded into a compacted relationship for portability, together with gas burners for top cooking and additional gas heating elements for selective broiling and baking operation.

11 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Portable camp stoves usually comprise an arrangement of parts which may be separated for breakdown portability and may be assembled for use as a cooking device. Most of such stoves can only be used with burners in the manner known as top cooking. Others have additional heating units which permit the stove to be used for either broiling or baking, seldom for both. In most cases the stove must be completely broken down into its separate component parts for packing, thus requiring a sometimes difficult and intricate operation in order to assemble the parts in cooperative relation for use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention overcomes the above and other disadvantages of and objections to prior art portable camp stoves by the provision of an arrangement of component parts which are hingedly interconnected so as to be folded into a compact unit for easy portability and to be unfolded and arranged in a predetermined relationship whereby it may be used for selective top cooking, broiling or baking.

This is achieved by hingedly connecting together a sheet metal framework comprising a base, a back, a front and two opposed sides, there being further provided means for retaining the parts in fixed assembled relation for cooking purposes, and means for adjustably supporting a bake-broil unit in position for selected bake or broil operation. Further means is provided provided for interconnecting a gas supply selectively to top burners of the device and to the additional bake-broil heater unit when in either the bake or broil position.

Means is also provided for rearranging the hinged parts of the device in a folded manner resembling a suitcase capable of holding within it the removable parts of the stove thereby imparting easy portability to the entire assemblage of parts.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Other advantages and objectives of the invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. I is an isometric view of a stove embodying the invention, collapsed and folded for portability;

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the stove of FIG. 1 opened and arranged for operation;

FIG. 3 is an isometric view of the stove of FIG. 1 completely unfolded prior to being arranged for operation;

FIG. 4 is an isometric view of the under side of the Ie the peaower heating unit;

FIG. 5 is an isometric view of the top burner unit;

FIG. 6 is an isometric view of the under side of the top burner unit;

FIG. 7 is an isometric view of the vessel support or grate;

FIG. 8 is an isometric view illustrating particularly the rear of the stove shown in FIG. 2 and the gas hookup; and

FIG. 9 is an enlarged elevational view of a valve unit.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring more particularly to the drawings wherein like characters of reference designate like parts throughout the several views, there is shown in FIG. 1 the stove of the invention as it appears when collapsed and folded for portability. The stove base 10 and back 12 are rectangular compartments which are hinged together along adjacent long edges as shown in FIG. 3 wherein the parts of the stove are unfolded and arranged to lie flat preparatory to being arranged for use as a stove or oven as depicted in FIG. 2.

The base 10 and back 12 are connected as described by hinges l4, and a pair of side panels 16 are also hinged as at 18 to the opposite ends of the back 12. Sides 16 are folded into position between the base 10 and back 12 when the device is arranged as shown in FIG. 1. However, in order to arrange the parts as shown in FIG 2, the back 12 is raised perpendicular to the base 10, and the sides 16 are swung forwardly perpendicular to the back 12 and parallel with the side walls 20 of the base 10. A latch 22 is located on the lower end portion of each side panel 16 and is provided with a pinlike member adapted to engage within a receptacle 24 therefor on the inner side of the respective wall 20 so as to fasten the side panels 16 in the desired upright positions. The latches 22 may be of any type suitable for the purpose.

A door panel 26 is hinged as at 28 to the front of the base 10 and forms the fourth side of the oven compartment.

The inner surfaces of the side panels carry runners 30 on which racks and heating units to be described may be positioned. As seen best in FIG. 2, for top cooking purposes a burner box 32 is positioned on the uppermost runner 30 so as to be positioned slightly below the upper ends of the side panels 16. The under side of the burner box carries a number of locating pins 33 which are adapted to be positioned in openings in the top runner. This aids in the rigidization of the entire assembly. The burner box 32 comprises a sheet metal plate or bottom 34 into which integral burner housings 36 (FIG. 6) are pressed or stamped, or onto which burner housings are fixed. On the upper surface of plate 34 burners 38 are located in overlying relation to the respective housings 36 and in communication therewith. However, the burner units, including housings 36, may be made in any suitable form as desired.

Each burner housing 36 has a rearwardly extending venturi 40 which tenninates at a respective opening 42 in the back 12 (FIG. 8). Mounted on back 42 is a transversely extending pipe 44 held in place as by clamps 46, which pipe 44 carries a pair of valves 48. Valves 48 are located opposite respective openings 42 and each has a short pipe or jet 48 which extends freely into the adjacent end of the venturi 40 (FIG. 9) so as to provide flow of gas into the venturi from pipe 44 under control of valve 48 by a knurled hand-operated screw 52. A tank 54 of gas is attached as by hose 56 to one end of the pipe 44 as a source of fuel. Thus by opening one or both of the valves 48, fuel may be made to flow to one or both of the burners 38.

A wire-formed or other suitable type of grate 58 is located on the top of the burner box 32 as shown to provide means for supporting cooking utensils over the burners 38.

For baking or broiling, there is provided a bake-broil burner unit 60 (FIGS. 2 and. 4) which is removably mounted on the runners 30. Unit 60 comprises a wirelike frame 62 upon which is disposed a sheet metal plate 64 carrying a burner 66 on the under surface thereof. Burner 66 may be of any suitable form such as, for example, the structure shown and described in U.S. Pat. Application Ser. No. 229,424 filed Feb. 25, 1972 and assigned to the present assignee.

The unit 60 will be located on an upper runner, with the burner 66 facing downwardly, when the oven is to be used for broiling purposes. However, when baking is to be done the burner unit 60 will be located on the bottom runner 30 with the burner 66 facing downwardly as shown in FIG. 2, and heated air will then flow upwardly by convertion between the ends of plate 64 and the ends of the frame 62.

To provide fuel for the burner 66, a third valve 68 is mounted on pipe 44 and has connected to it one end of a flexible hose 70, the opposite end of which is adapted to be inserted within a selected one of a pair of openings 72, depending upon whether the unit is located in the upper broiling position or the lower baking position, the hose 70 thus carrying gaseous guel which may be made to flow into the venturi 74 of the burner 66.

The door panel 26 is provided with a suitable latch 76 for engagement with a downwardly extending portion of a flange 78 on the burner box 32. Door 26 is also provided with suitable vents 80 for exit of combustion products.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that a novel portable camp stove has been achieved in accordance with the objectives of this invention. However, it is to be understood that various modifications and changes may be made in the structures shown and described without departing from the spirit of the invention as expressed in the accompanying claims. Therefore, all matter shown and described is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. A collapsible stove comprising a base, a back hinged to one end of the base, a pair of side panels hinged to respective ends of said back, means for detachably securing said side panels to respective sides of said base to define therewith an oven compartment, a top burner unit removably carried within the upper portion of said oven compartment, a bake-broil unit removably positioned in a selected upper or lower area of the oven compartment, and means for connecting a supply of gaseous fuel to said units irrespective of their adjusted positions in the oven compartment.

2. A collapsible stove comprising a base section and a back section hinged together for movement into adjacent spaced parallel positions or alternatively into positions perpendicular to one another, a pair of side sections hinged to respective ends of one of said base and back sections for movement alternatively into positions parallel with or perpendicular to said section to which they are hinged, means for detachably securing said side sections when in said perpendicular positions to the other of said sections for defining therewith an oven compartment, top burner means located in the upper portion of the oven compartment, second burner means removably positioned within said oven compartment below the top burner means at selected different bake-broil operating locations therein, and connecting means for connecting a supply of gaseous fuel to both of said burner means irrespective of the positions thereof in the oven compartment.

3. A collapsible stove as set forth in claim 2 wherein said side sections carry opposed pairs of supports on the inner surfaces, and said top burner means is positioned on one of said pairs of supports.

4. A collapsible stove as set forth in claim 2 wherein said top burner means includes at least one burner housing and a venturi extending from said housing toward one of said sections, said one section is provided with an aperture adjacent said venturi, and said connecting means comprises a conduit functionally interconnected to said venturi adjacent said aperture.

5. A collapsible stove as set forth in claim 4 wherein said one section is said back section.

6. A collapsible stove as set forth in claim 2 wherein said second burner means includes a burner unit removably positioned within the oven compartment at a selected level below the top burner means.

7. A collapsible stove as set forth in claim 6 wherein said side panels carry opposed pairs of supports on the inner surfaces, and said second burner means is positioned selectively on one of said pairs of supports.

8. A collapsible stove as set forth in claim 6 wherein said second burner means includes a burner housing and a venturi extending from said burner housing toward one of said sections, said one section is provided with a plurality of apertures disposed for adjacent alignment with said venturi at the different selected locations of the second burner means in the oven compartment, and said connecting means comprises a conduit functionally interconnected to said venturi adjacent the adjacent aperture.

9. A collapsible stove as set forth in claim 8 wherein said one section is said back section.

10. A collapsible stove as set forth in claim 6 wherein said back section is provided with apertures adjacent each of said burner means, a tube carrying a valve positioned adjacent the apertures which are associated with said top burner means, and conduit means connecting said valves and tubing to a source of fuel.

11. A collapsible stove as set forth in claim 10 comprising an additional valve carried by said tubing, and a flexible hose having one end attached to said additional valve, with its other end being adapted to be functionally interconnected with said second burner means. 

1. A collapsible stove comprising a base, a back hinged to one end of the base, a pair of side panels hinged to respective ends of said back, means for detachably securing said side panels to respective sides of said base to define therewith an oven compartment, a top burner unit removably carried within the upper portion of said oven compartment, a bake-broil unit removably positioned in a selected upper or lower area of the oven compartment, and means for connecting a supply of gaseous fuel to said units irrespective of their adjusted positions in the oven compartment.
 2. A collapsible stove comprising a base section and a back section hinged together for movement into adjacent spaced parallel positions or alternatively into positions perpendicular to one another, a pair of side sections hinged to respective ends of one of said base and back sections for movement alternatively into positions parallel with or perpendicular to said section to which they are hinged, means for detachably securing said side sections when in said perpendicular positions to the other of said sections for defining therewith an oven compartment, top burner means located in the upper portion of the oven compartment, second burner means removably positioned within said oven compartment below the top burner means at selected different bake-broil operating locations therein, and connecting means for connecting a supply of gaseous fuel to both of said burner means irrespective of the positions thereof in the oven compartment.
 3. A collapsible stove as set forth in claim 2 wherein said side sections carry opposed pairs of supports on the inner surfaces, and said top burner means is positioned on one of said pairs of supports.
 4. A collapsible stove as set forth in claim 2 wherein said top burner means includes at least one burner housing and a venturi extending from said housing toward one of said sections, said one section is provided with an aperture adjacent said venturi, and said connecting means comprises a conduit functionally interconnected to said venturi adjacent said aperture.
 5. A collapsible stove as set forth in claim 4 wherein said one section is said back section.
 6. A collapsible stove as set forth in claim 2 wherein said second burner means includes a burner unit removably positioned within the oven compartment at a selected level below the top burner means.
 7. A collapsible stove as set forth in claim 6 wherein said side panels carry opposed pairs of supports on the inner surfaces, and said second burner means is positioned selectively on one of said pairs of supports.
 8. A collapsible stove as set forth in claim 6 wherein said second burner means includes a burner housing and a venturi extending from said burner housing toward one of said sectionS, said one section is provided with a plurality of apertures disposed for adjacent alignment with said venturi at the different selected locations of the second burner means in the oven compartment, and said connecting means comprises a conduit functionally interconnected to said venturi adjacent the adjacent aperture.
 9. A collapsible stove as set forth in claim 8 wherein said one section is said back section.
 10. A collapsible stove as set forth in claim 6 wherein said back section is provided with apertures adjacent each of said burner means, a tube carrying a valve positioned adjacent the apertures which are associated with said top burner means, and conduit means connecting said valves and tubing to a source of fuel.
 11. A collapsible stove as set forth in claim 10 comprising an additional valve carried by said tubing, and a flexible hose having one end attached to said additional valve, with its other end being adapted to be functionally interconnected with said second burner means. 